Business Associate, Temporary Position for Business Innovation and Development
The soonami Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program is an exciting opportunity for technical AI founders, specifically AI engineers or machine learning developers, to bring their ideas to life. This program is designed for individuals who possess a strong entrepreneurial mindset and have experience with technologies such as ML, NLP, large language models (LLMs), AI infrastructure, or tools.
Program Requirements
To participate in the EIR program, candidates must meet certain requirements. They should have technical expertise in AI/ML-related fields, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a compelling idea or a willingness to collaborate in building one. Participants are expected to commit part-time for approximately 12 to 15 weeks to build and ship their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), often while starting part-time without quitting their current job.
Candidates must also participate in soonami’s Venturethon process for candidate vetting by submitting an application form, which can be found on app.[.]foundance.[.]org/events/soonami-cohort-8.
Program Benefits
The EIR program offers a range of benefits to its participants. These include a stipend of $1,000 per month for the duration of the roughly 3-month program, matching with co-founders if needed, access to hands-on feedback, mentorship, and founder coaching, connection to a global builder network, and an opportunity to pitch for up to $125,000 in funding from soonami’s investment committee. Upon finishing the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion.
Financial Incentives
The program also provides financial incentives in the form of soonami native tokens (SNI), which are convertible to USD. The reward pool is distributed among 8 EIR teams, with a total prize pool of 90,000 SNI for six teams. Two additional EIR projects, each with a Rank 5+ founder, will receive 30,000 SNI in compensation.
Program Structure
The EIR program offers a path from idea to MVP to investment. Participants can start part-time and switch to full-time after securing funding, enabling a smoother transition from employment to entrepreneurship. The program includes weekly check-ins, AMAs, expert-led masterclasses, and a supportive peer network.
Those who perform well in the cohort get a chance to pitch to investors after 12-15 weeks. The program is scaling its EIR pool with a reward pool of 150,000 SNI tokens.
In conclusion, the soonami EIR program is an excellent opportunity for technical AI founders to bring their ideas to life, network globally, and potentially secure funding. If you have a strong idea or want to build one, consider applying for the program. The application process begins on September 15, 2025.
- Participants of the soonami Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program, who are technical AI founders, can expect to receive a financial incentive in the form of soonami native tokens (SNI) that are convertible to USD.
- The EIR program, designed for AI engineers or machine learning developers with an entrepreneurial mindset, offers access to various opportunities such as mentorship, funding, and networking in the realm of business and technology.
